CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

In a CT scan, an increase in slicing thickness primarily affects spatial resolution. Spatial resolution refers to the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects in an image. Thicker slices can lead to a decrease in spatial resolution because they capture more tissue within a single slice, which can result in blurring of fine details. This is due to the partial volume effect, where different tissues within the larger slice thickness can average out their densities, making it difficult to identify small structures or differentiate between them.

While factors such as contrast detail, radiation dose, and image noise are also influenced by slice thickness, they are not as directly related to the changes in spatial resolution that occur with thicker slices. For example, contrast detail is more closely tied to the optimal use of imaging parameters and contrast agents rather than solely reliant on thickness. Radiation dose typically increases with thinner slices due to the need for higher exposure settings, and image noise can vary based on scanning parameters including slice thickness but is not as directly affected as spatial resolution is. Thus, increasing the slicing thickness is most significantly linked to a decrease in spatial resolution.